The Chaos of "Mr. Wolf" and How to Show Up

Chicago is having a rough time right now. I’ve heard helicopters overhead constantly for several days in my neighborhood, along with warning whistles and honking. Shouts or eerie silence have filled our street, which is usually bustling with mirth on a sunny weekend.

But what has been so inspiring is seeing our neighbors come together to support and defend one another against abject cruelty.

Do what you can, but be safe, friends.

Buy that fruit or tamales from your neighborhood vendor.

Say hi to folks on the sidewalks.

Shop at your local stores, restaurants, bakeries, and boutiques.

Love each other big.

Chicago will overcome.

What Makes a Wolf?

What do you do when everything you know has been ripped away from you? That’s precisely what Theresa (Emilie Maureen Hanson) must figure out for herself after she is brought back to her family years after she was abducted. The world she knew—a small home designed by Walt Spangler—is gone. But to her family, her reunion brings back all kinds of questions. Questions of identity, trauma, and family.

Questions that, for the most part, Rajiv Joseph’s Mr. Wolf doesn’t answer.

In many ways, this play, which first premiered in 2015, is an enigma—beckoning us onward, cautiously, as Theresa navigates her new/old life. Just like her, we are caught up in the big questions of it all, trying to make sense of a world that we don’t know. All the while, Mr. Wolf (Tim Hopper) appears as various male authority figures, complicating this life even more. It is in those complications that this cast really shines.

This five-person cast is remarkable. Hopper maneuvered expertly between the characters flawlessly, from a panicked Mr. Wolf to a matter-of-fact detective, creating more chaos for poor Theresa to overcome. Yet Hanson was ready for that task. Her gentle Theresa finds her voice throughout this production, a transition through the chaos that is well worth seeing.

Speaking of transitions, watching Mr. Wolf’s home fly away in sections is one of my favorite parts of this show. We see layers of his home during those fly-ins or outs that we never otherwise see. This juxtaposition demonstrates the nuance of Theresa’s situation. There are pieces of the story still hidden from view that may be revealed, but only when she’s ready to transition to that next phase in her journey.

The issue I had with the show is that the journey feels abruptly cut off. Joseph’s play ends in a way that doesn’t feel like a natural conclusion. We’re left wondering about so much of the story that the ending can feel unsatisfactory. It was only a few days later, after ruminating on it, that I began to see why it ends the way it does. Though it still doesn’t feel like the whole of a story.

Maybe that’s the point. After all, the wolf doesn’t ask questions before he strikes.

Mr. Wolf runs now through November 2nd at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted Street. Tickets are available online: $66.50-$108.50.

Showing Up For Our Communities

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, each brimming with unique cultural contributions. And when it comes to theater, we often take for granted our incredible Latinx performing artists who are creating some of the most dynamic and essential performances in the city. Now, more than ever, we need to show up for them.

We celebrate our diverse theater companies in Chicago. We wouldn’t be the city we are without them.

These companies are more than just stages; they are cultural hubs, incubators for new talent, and spaces where audiences can connect with narratives that often go unheard in mainstream venues.

Particularly now, during Destinos, it’s easier than ever to support our Latinx theatrical community and domestic and international guests with a lineup of incredible work. This is the 8th Chicago International Latino Theatre Festival, with events running all month through November 2. It is presented by the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA).

Destinos is an annual, month-long artistic celebration. But if you can’t make that, we have plenty of other theater companies you can support (along with CLATA) year-round. These include:

• Aguijón Theater Company

• Collaboraction Theatre Company

• Teatro Vista

• UrbanTheater Company

• Visión Latino Theatre Company

Keep our artistic community thriving so these vital stories can continue to be told for years to come.

Chicago A&E News

• A Red Orchid Theatre has added a week of performances for its critically acclaimed dystopian dark comedy, Veal, due to popular demand. The run is now extended through Sunday, November 9, 2025, at their venue in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online or by phone.

• American Blues Theater will host its annual Halloween Boo Bash on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at its home on N. Lincoln Ave. This all-ages costumed fundraiser will benefit artists' wages during Season 40, with tickets priced at $35. The event features a costume parade, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating in the theater, and live karaoke performances and campfire stories by artists.

• Aville Grows will host Rooted in Song, a cabaret fundraiser for their new community garden project, on Monday, October 20, 2025. The event will take place at the Bramble Arts Loft in Chicago and will be directed and hosted by Broadway's David Rossetti. Audiences will enjoy an evening of classic and original songs performed by over a dozen Chicago artists. Tickets are available here.

• Choose Chicago is pleased to announce that Chicago has been crowned the Best Big City in the U.S. in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. This marks the city's ninth consecutive win, establishing an unprecedented streak in the awards program's more than 30-year history. This prestigious recognition follows a record-breaking summer for Chicago hotel room demand and revenue.

• PlayMakers Laboratory is bringing back its annual holiday tradition, the original sketch show That's Weird, Grandma: Holiday Party! The family-friendly comedy extravaganza will feature only five performances, running from December 5–14, 2025, at the Neo-Futurist Theater in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and can be purchased on the PlayMakers Laboratory website.

• Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile has been ranked #4 in US Hotels as part of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. The hotel's General Manager, Sven-Erik Richter, expressed his delight, calling the recognition a testament to the dedicated team that delivers heartfelt service and unforgettable guest experiences. Located in the Gold Coast neighborhood, the hotel offers 415 guestrooms and 63 suites, blending the city’s architectural heritage with French elegance and art de vivre.

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company is continuing its 50th Anniversary Season with a production of Peter Shaffer's masterpiece, Amadeus, directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls. Due to popular demand, the run has been extended by an additional week, now playing through Sunday, January 11, 2026. Ensemble member Ian Barford and David Darrow lead the large cast as rival composers Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Buy tickets now.

• The Goodman Theatre is celebrating a successful first month of its Centennial Season with a 20% increase in membership and two world-premiere productions currently on stage. The organization also welcomed new leadership, including Marsha Cruzan as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees and Diane Landgren as the new President of the Women’s Board. Furthermore, the season’s first major fundraiser, "Unleash Your Potential," was a record-breaking success, raising $500,000 for the Education and Engagement programs.

  Do you have Chicago-based A&E news to announce?

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